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Phoenix man accused of tipping man in wheelchair into road

A 41-year-old Phoenix man is accused of robbing a man with advanced muscular dystrophy before tipping him and his wheelchair over into the roadway so he couldn't fight back, according to a court document.

Charles Edward Cooks, 41, was booked Monday into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of aggravated assault, vulnerable adult abuse and robbery, the document said.

Just after noon on Monday, police say the reported victim was in his motorized wheelchair when Cooks robbed him of his cellphone on Bethany Home Road near Interstate 17, where "three independent witnesses ... observed Cooks to lift and push the victim over into the street," the document said.

Because of the his limited mobility, the man was unable to break his fall and suffered head injuries.

Witnesses notified police and Cooks was found about a block away with the reported victim's cellphone in his backpack, the court document said.

Cooks told police that the man in the wheelchair had knocked him down but later said the wheelchair had run over his foot, causing the man to fall into the street, the document said.

A judge set Cooks bail at $15,000 and his next court appearance has been scheduled for May 26.